Water heater with a constrictively-held partition



J. E. ERCANBRACK WATER HEATER WITH A GONSTRICTIVELY HELD PARTITION File c- 2 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. E. ERCANBRACK WATER HEATER WITH A CONSTRICTIVELY HELD PARTITION Oct 26 1926.,

File ec- 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v:1!llllllrllllllllllllilllillIII Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

Jorm EDWARD nncannnncx, or cnrcaeo, rumors.

WATER HEATER WITH A CONSTRICTIVELY-HELD PARTITION.

\ Application filed December 21, 1925. Serial No. 76,779.

My present. invention relates to the provision of a partition type of water heater. n such water heaters as my present invention pertains to, the water to" be heated is circulated in a conduit, or pipe; the exterior whereof is subject to the action of .a heating medium. Provision must be made in such pipes, or conduits, to cause the water to be introduced at one point and escape at another after it has been subjected for the maximum length of travel to the action of the heating mediumlconcentrically arranged tubing, tition, have heretofore been used for securing the desired circulation but, where partitions have heretofore been made, it has constituted a diflicult to install the partition. If the partition fits, or nearly fits, the interior of the tube, it is an extremely difficult matter to insert it in the tube without bending the partition, or tube, or both. If the partition is slightly undersized, as is the usual practice, it may -or may not be assembled properly and, even after assembly, is liable 'to material dis- .placement through the bending, or sagging, of the pipe, and the unequal expansion and contractionof the pipe and partition, and the action of the water flowing through the structure. It is, of course, able not'only to realize the function of the partition as a director of circulation in the pipe but, also, have it operate for strengthening and rendering the pipe itself more rigid. I have, therefore, had for my ob.- jects the provision of a pipe, or conduit, for

such heaters having a partition which not only directs the circulation in the pipe, or conduit, but, also, after mechanical portion of the tube and serves to reinforce and strengthen the same. I have also had in mind the provision of an exterior head'for attachment to such a partitioned pipe, or conduit, which will accomplish an economy both in manufacture and installation and will afford possibility of adaptations in assembly to meet the manifold conditions in will, also, permit of quick and easy cleanlng of'the tube, or conduit, which is a most imortant consideration in heaters of the type iierein considered. i

I attain the aforementioned objects by means of the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- and also tubing with a parand expensive step highly desirassembly, forms a practical installation, and

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central section of a water heater embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental schematic section illustrating the deformation of a tube.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 33 of Fig. 1. i 4

Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, front and rear views of one form of exterior head.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the head securing lugs 21.

ig. 7 is a central section of a series assembly of a plurality of my heater units.

' Fig. 8 is a front shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a parallel assembly of heater units.

Similar reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate similar parts. 5

The tube, or conduit, is, preferably, a suitable length of commercial copper tubing 5 of. the desired diameter and thickness. The inner, or remote, end of the tube 5 is closed by brazing a copper disc 6 therein. Before this di 0 6 is brazed in place, however, a' strip of copper plate 7 of suitable thickness, is formed having a width a sixtyfourth of an inch, or more, greater than the interior diameter of the tube 5, and of the length sufiiciently shorter than the tube 5, so that'the communicating space 8 is left at the inner, or remote, end ofthe tube 5, between the two sides of same is in position within the tube.

' "The tube is then deformed; or rendered slightly elliptical in section,

by placing the same man enlongated vise, or other suitable mechanism, (the relation of the jaws 8 and elevation of the structure the plate, when the f said tube are schematically'shown in Fig.

2), and the plate '7 is introduced therein upon the grater axis 9 of the ellipse, so formed. The deforming of the tube must be done with care and should not be carried beyond the limit of elasticity of the material employed so that after the plate has been inserted, as above described, the deforming means is released which permits the tube to assume nearly its'normal round form, thereby gripping the plate constrictively and holding the tube and plate in their desired adjusted relations:

With the structure assembled as de- I scribed, the hydrostatic head of the water, which is admitted to circulate in the tube, assists the elasticity of the tube in pressing the stud bolt 20. is a segmental shoulder 21 which extends the tube to its original circular shapefthereby assisting in holding the plate in position. Also, with. the plate inserted in the tube, as described, and constrictively held therein, a

structure is secured which is appreciably withthe exterior system of circulation com prises a, hub, or collar 11 from which extends a neck 12; there being provided at the base'of the neck 12, in the outer face of the hub, an anriular channel 13. Cast internally of the hub and neck is a diametrical partition 14, which extends slightly beyond the hub and the corners 15, of which are shaped to fit with the flared proximate end of the tube v5. The partition 14 is centrally slotted at 14 to receive the proximate edge of the plate 7.

.To assemble this structure with a boiler, orother chamber containing a heating medium, a plate 16 of the boiler, or chamber, is apertured at 17 to receive the tube 5 and, also, the tubular member, or flange 18, of a soft metal washer, the radial flange 18 of which fits the back or rear face of the flange 10 of the tube 5'. A suitable distance from the edges of the aperture 17 the plate 16 is bored and tapped at three, preferably, equally spaced points 19 to receive stud bolts 20. The location of the stud bolts need not, however, be, equally spaced if a rivet or other feature of the boiler, or chamber, should interfere; as the'lugs 21 can be positioned in any convenient place without weakening the assembly. A lug 21 is provided, one edge 21 whereof is formed to register with the neck 12; the lug being extended from said edge to permit of receiving a preferably elliptical aperture 22 for the passage of a stud bolt 20.

The elliptical shape of the apertures 22 is for the purpose of an easier assembly with Adjacent the edge 21 into the channel 13. Also, a yoke-shaped depending flange 21 is formed about the aperture 21 for pressing against the edge of the hub 11, and additionally reinforcing and strengthening the lug. A Illlt- 23 is screwed down 'on the stud bolt 20 and down on top of the lug 21, thereby drawing the hub 11 and the flange 10 and the Washer 18 together and in contact with the plate 16.

The head in front of the neck 12 is produced into a substantially rectangular member with hubs 24 and 25 On its right and left sides; also, hubs 26 and 27, on, respec- .tively, its bottom and top, and, preferably, two adjacent and confluent hubs 28 and 29 upon the. face, or proximate, side. Each of the aforesaid hubs are bored and tapped to receive pipe connections, or plugs, as may be required in any particular installation. The partition 14 is extended up and around the openings in the lateral hubs 24 and 25 and ends in connection with the interior of the head betweeIi-the bores in the confluent hubs 28 and 29. In the highest portion of the partition 14 is a bleed hole, or air vent 14 to prevent'the trappin of air in the lower compartment of the head.

,The assemblyof the individual units of the heater in series is shown in. Figs. 7 and 8. In series assembly, the water to be heated passes successively through the several units in the installation, and in this form of series assembly the cold water inlet is made with either hub 24 or '25, theopposite hub being plugged or closed with plug 25. The hub 26 is closed with a plug 26 and a nipple 27 connects hub 27 of the first head of the assembly with hub 26 of an adjacent head. If this adjacent head be an intermediate head both hubs 24 and 25 are plugged and its hub 27 is likewise connected by nipple 27 with a hub 27 of the next adjacent head. If the next adjacent head is the last head in the assembly, hub 26 is plugged and the hot water supply is taken from either hub 24 or 25, the hub opposite to the hot Water lead being plugged. In this manner, as clearly seen in Fig. 7, the circulation will besuccessively through the respective units of the heater.

If, however, a parallel arrangement is desired the cold water connection is made with either hub 24 or 25 and the hot water connection is made with each of the hubs 27. Connections between heads in a parallel assembly are made by nipples .24 running between hubs 24 and 25, so that the cold water enters each section without having to transverse the heating element of the other sections and is delivered from each section directlyto the hot'water service pipe.

Having described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is Y 1. A tube for water heaters transversely deformed within the limit of elasticity of thematerial of which the tube is composed and a partition disposed within and constrictively held in position by the elasticity of said tube.

2. A tube transversely deformed within the limit of elasticity of the material of which the tube is composed and a partition disposed within and constrictively held in position by the elasticity of said tube.

3. A conduit for securing to and fro fluid circulation comprising a tube closed at one end and transversely deformed within the limit of elasticity of the material of which said tubeis composed and a partition extending. longitudinally of said tube to a point spaced from the closed end thereof, said partition being constrictively held Within said tube by the elasticity thereof and the pressure of the fluid ciroulatingtherein.

4. A method of forming partitioned tubes consisting of transversely deforming the tubes yvithin the limit of elasticity of the 10 material of which the tubes are formed, inserting partitions of greater width than the initial diameter of said tubes upon the greater axis of the ellipse so formed, and releasing the deforming means whereby titions are constrictively held.

J. EDWARD EIRJCANBRAOK.

said par- 15 

